Usually, a country seemingly ending elections and officially becoming a one party state would be big news, but “Nicaragua cancels elections” has barely seemed to garner much interest at all.
In part, this is because in reality it means that not all that much will actually change in the country. Also, as things stand right now on this great planet, the reality is that we have bigger concerns.
What does it actually mean though? Why has it happened? Will it affect tourism? And might Mr Ortega get the Maduro treatment?
Here’s the YPT take on Nicaragua.
Table of Contents
A Brief History of the Nicaraguan Revolution
To understand Nicaragua today, you first have to understand one thing: this is a country where history is never really history. The ghosts of revolution, foreign intervention and the Cold War are still very much alive.
The story begins with Augusto César Sandino, the Nicaraguan revolutionary who fought against US military intervention in the 1920s and became a symbol of resistance and national pride. Decades later, his name would inspire the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), a revolutionary movement that would eventually overthrow the Somoza dynasty in 1979 and launch the second major socialist government in the Americas.
The Somoza family had ruled Nicaragua brutally for decades, with close ties to Washington, and their fall was celebrated by most all Nicaraguans as the end of an old evil order. The new Sandinista government launched ambitious programmes in education, healthcare and land reform, while also moving closer to Cuba and the wider socialist world. This did not fly in Reagan era America.
This, of course, was the height of the Cold War, and Nicaragua quickly became one of the biggest chessboards in the battle between the United States and the Soviet Union. Washington supported the Contra movement, an armed opposition force fighting the Sandinista government. The Sandinistas described the Contras as illegal US backed mercenaries attempting to destroy the revolution, while the United States presented them as a resistance movement against Sandinista rule.
The conflict became one of the most controversial episodes of the Cold War in Latin America. The International Court of Justice later ruled that the United States had violated international law through its actions against Nicaragua, including support for the Contras, although Washington rejected the ruling. The war devastated Nicaragua, damaging the economy and leaving deep scars that remain visible today.
In 1990, “election”s were held and Daniel Ortega lost to Violeta Chamorro. Supporters of the Sandinistas argued that the result came after years of war, economic pressure and foreign intervention – AKA rigged.
Ortega though did not go away, instead fighting on to regain power in 2007. Yet despite his former revolutionary zeal he has remained more verbally revolutionary than a functionary one. This has led to strife with both the left and the right within the country – while also pissing of the US at every possible opportunity. Let us not forget Nicaragua was one of the countries alongside Nauru to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The Reason Nicaragua Cancels Elections
Here comes the overall irony. While elections for the presidency were planned for next year, the general thought within the country and the international community was that they were already a bit of a sham. In essence, what Ortega has done here is kind of acknowledge that, and well, hence “Nicaragua cancels elections”.
The reasoning is that, and not without some legitimacy, he does not want to lose power due to “foreign influence”. This, of course, happened to him in the early 90s and has been attempted against Cuba for 60+ years, as well as a whole heap of other Latin American countries from Guatemala to Chile and Bolivia.
On the flip side, obviously some would argue that it is a consolidation of power after protests against the government, as well as the arrest or exile of a number of opposition leaders. Who are we to say? After all YPT is officially neutral.
So, Is Nicaragua Communist?
The answer to the question “Is Nicaragua communist?” is very much a resounding no, no it is not communist.
However, during the former incarnation of the Sandinistas, the government was at least trying to work towards a socialist future and had much closer links to the communist world. After the end of the Contra War and the return of a market economy, Nicaragua moved towards what is today a “mixed market economy”, which is not all that different from places like China or Vietnam.
Much like China, Vietnam and the like, though, Nicaragua and the Sandinistas like to play on their revolutionary past. This basically means lots of hammers and sickles, but also poor people and the ability to still buy a McDonald’s.
Yet despite the fact that Nicaragua is pretty ingrained into the economic sphere of the United States, that does not mean this move will be “ok” with them, quite the contrary. The US has, of course, taken down Venezuela, invaded countries such as Iraq, and maintained a blockade on Cuba. In reality, Nicaragua could well be next, particularly if there are protests. Ironically, this would also act a bit like a self fulfilling prophecy for Ortega if it were attempted.
What Does It Mean For Travel To Nicaragua?
In reality, it means that nothing has changed for the most part, as it has now merely moved from a dominant party system to a one party state.
Because of its nature as such, Nicaragua is actually one of the less crime ridden parts of the region. This does not mean it is without its own unique problems though, far from it. When visiting, one should refrain from negative comments about the government while also avoiding anything vaguely resembling a protest.
For us, obviously, we would not only not be put off, but are currently actively looking at opening tours here in 2027. After all, this is a red tourism Mecca.
Click to see our work in progress Nicaragua Tours.
